Noctis was still subdued during dinner that night and didn't even fight Iggy when he put vegetables on his plate. He didn't eat them, but he didn't fight. A second bath was needed after being slammed into the dirt a few times leaving Noctis sitting on the couch toweling his hair dry before going to bed.

"Scoot over." It was Gladio. Noctis moved over a foot allowing the bigger man to take a seat.

"Iris told me everything from her side."

"It was stupid of me," Noctis said.

"Instead of running, you made sure the troops threatening the others were taken down and you kept them safe."

"Carbuncle did," Noctis said, "He saved me too."

"I was under the impression the Fulgurian showing up saved everyone," Gladio said.

"If I hadn't had his mark, we'd all be dead," Noctis said.

"You also have the mark of the Archaean," Gladio said.

"If I wasn't so weak like this—."

"You wouldn't have been here if you'd been your normal self," Gladio said, "Who knows, maybe that bastard showing up was going to happen whether or not you took a trip back to kiddie land. If you hadn't been here, Talcott and Iris would be in imperial custody or worse."

"You don't know that," Noctis said.

"You don't either. Just don't do anything like that again, ok?" Gladio said lightly shoving Noctis and using a hand to ruffle Noctis's wet hair. Noctis shook his head and looked down at the ground for a few moments. He opened his mouth a few times trying to force the words out until he took a breath.

"I still don't really believe he's gone. I know he's gone," Noctis said, "I think I sort of have my adult memories of it, but it's still not real to me yet." Gladio looked at Noctis for a few moments and nodded.

"I know the feeling," Gladio said. Noctis looked up at Gladio with wide eyes.

"Your dad—."

"Same day. He wasn't the King'd Shield for nothing, you know," Gladio said, "And now that's me." Noctis blinked back a few tears before it hit him like a ton of bricks and he couldn't stop. He could feel strong arms pulling him close and holding him. If extra wetness joined his own tears, he pretended not to notice.

Prompto hung back at the door, he heard the conversation leading up to the muffled sobs. Gladio and Noctis needed this moment. Ignis was next to him with a thoughtful look on his face.

"Iggy, your parents—."

"Died a while ago," Ignis said softly, "I was but eleven at the time. An automobile accident due to a massive summer storm."

"That sucks," Prompto said.

"It would appear that you never had parents at all," Ignis said.

"Can't miss what you didn't have."

They walked downstairs quietly. Monica, Iris, and Talcott were in bed already. Dustin had first watch. Cid would sleep down in the Lighthouse hanger bay.

"Funny, we're pretty much all orphans here," Prompto said, "Yet we're also family."

"We are indeed."

Noctis woke up with a slight headache. He must have cried himself to sleep. He hadn't done that since after they escaped the invasion of Tenebrae. He was disoriented though. When had they gotten back to Cape Caem? They were in the Kettier Highlands in that Cave last he remembered. The room looked off. Like it was bigger or something. He sat up and the illusion stayed put. Maybe a side effect of whatever that monster's magic was. He slipped out of bed and it was farther down than he'd expected. He stumbled a little and what the—Justice Monster's Five PJ's? The guys must have been pulling a prank, though why waste the gil on adult sized Justice Monster's Five PJ's? His hands! The last two days came crashing to mind and Noctis felt beyond embarrassed. Especially last night. Crying was one thing, but crying at random was another. It was something a little kid would do. Though, technically he was one of those at the time. Still was. He clenched a fist. He was useless like this and he was now acutely aware of how useless he was. Despite the potion's effects, there were a few lingering bruises on his neck from where…. He slipped into the bathroom and washed up. He pulled the gel out of subspace and styled his hair as best he could. It looked decent. Maybe if he'd been tall enough for the mirror, it'd look better. Oh well. He walked downstairs and there were eggs and toast.

"You're up at a decent time," Gladio said from his spot at the table, his plate piled high with eggs. Noctis shrugged and took a plate and filled it with eggs and toast.

"Hey, you spiked your hair!" Talcott said. Noctis, who had a mouth full of eggs nodded.

"I remembered how to do it," Noctis said after he swallowed his eggs. He spread the toast with the jam without being prompted and ate it up before buttering the others. It really did taste a little like Luna's tarts. Ignis took a seat next to Noctis a cup of coffee steaming in his other hand. Ebony, of course. The man was an addict.

"Iggy, it's this," Noctis said pointing to the Ulwaat berry jam.

"You remembered that?" Ignis said. Noctis nodded. Ignis took a piece of toast and tried the jam on it and nodded before pulling out his notebook and made few notes.

"What do you remember?" Prompto asked taking a seat and placing a glass of orange juice in front of Noctis.

"Everything."

"Oh, that's a relief….I guess," Prompto said.

"It's messed up," Noctis said before he grabbed his glass, "You can say it."

"Yeah, it is a little messed up, but maybe Luna can fix it," Prompto said.

"I hope so," Noctis said, "It'd be a bit hard to face the Hydrean like this or fight the empire like this."

"You also can't get married like that either," Iris said which made Noctis spit out his orange juice. He hadn't even thought of that!

"Someone's thinking naughty thoughts," Prompto said.

"Sh-shut up!" Noctis said. His face was burning.

"Before you even think of getting away from this table, you had better finish your plate," Ignis said. There was still a fair amount of eggs on the plate. Noctis bolted them down before he stalked over to the kitchenette placing the dish in the sink before went up the stairs, back to the guest room. He groaned whenever he realized that Luna would have to see him like this to fix him. Great. As if this wasn't already an awkward situation, let's add the woman he's been in love with since before he even realized that's what it was. He'd barely kept the guys from realizing he liked his bride-to-be for even a day after his marriage to Luna was announced as part of the peace treaty. A bark startled him back to reality. Umbra! Of all times. He slid the journal free. He smiled at Luna's sticker and message. He pulled a sticker he'd been saving for her and placed it on the other page.

Finally on the way to Altissia. He thought about warning her about his….condition but decided to not. Who knows what could happen if the book ended up in someone else's hands. As it was, the notes between the two of them were generic enough that most people wouldn't even suspect it was an illicit conversation between the Oracle and the Prince of Lucis. He patted Umbra gently. The messenger barked before he did his thing. It was best Noctis didn't question how Luna's dogs could do what they did because she would never tell him. She'd said as much when they were kids. They'd be leaving in three days. Finally. Though that meant he was stuck here for three days with nothing to do. Great. He heard footsteps and Prompto walked in.

"Hey! Iggy and Gladio are going to the nearest Outpost to pick up some supplies, want to come with?" he said.

"Sure it won't be weird with me like this?" Noctis said.

"We already have a cover fort that. Iggy and I are your uncles. You look like your dad, because you totally do, and Gladio is our friend," Prompto said.

"Right," Noctis said hopping down and following Prompto out. Maybe this wouldn't end badly.

The Outpost was small, but there was a weapons's van, which Gladio made bee-line for while Iggy perused the food stuffs. They would need to eat on their three day voyage. Carbuncle stayed in the car to sleep. Prompto seemed to stick with Noctis. There wasn't even a proper restaurant there. There was a nice spot for photos though. Noctis pointed it out.

"Stand over there, and perfect!" Prompto said, "Think Luna would like it."

"Don't," Noctis said.

"Relax, it's not like she doesn't know what you look like," Prompto said, "She has seen you before." Noctis opened his mouth to protest but shut it. He wasn't wrong: the last Luna had seen of Noctis, he'd looked like this.

"Here, try this out," Gladio walked over handing Noctis a short sword. It was light but it felt good enough.

"Thanks," Noctis said.

"You need real weapons, not toys, in case something happens again." Gladio said. Noctis let go of the sword equipping it and Gladio also handed him a short spear. The blunted tip gave away what it really was.

"A training weapon?" Noctis said

"It was the only spear small enough for you to use," Gladio said. He had a point; A kid would have a training weapon. The final weapon was a small shield. Well small for his adult form. For his current form, it looked like one of Gladio's kite shields.

"Why did you give that child a shield?" They turned to see it was Dino, "Ah, if it isn't my favorite hunters. Where's you leader?"

"Busy," Gladio said stepping in front of Noctis. Great. Of all the people they could have met while he was like this, it had to be Dino.

"What's the matter? Don't want the kid meeting a journalist?" Dino said.

"Cut to the chase, what gemstone are you after this time," Ignis said.

"I'm here on business, actually. You guys wouldn't happen to know anything about a strange weather phenomenon yesterday, would ya?" Dino asked.

"Would you believe Divine Intervention?" Prompto said.

"With you guys, I just might," Dino said, "So is it just me or does that kid look a lot like your missing leader?"

"How long were you watching?" Gladio crossed his arms.

"Long enough to see you give the kid a real sword," Dino said, "He related to the Prince or something?"

"Or something," Ignis said.

"Something like a long lost little brother or a recently found clone?" Dino said.

"If you think you know something, just say it," Gladio said.

"If my sources are correct, there are a couple of Hunters who were turned back into kids because of a hunt gone wrong, and other sources place that fancy car of yours in the same area, see?" Dino said, "I just wanted to confirm this for myself. I promise not to publish it. I know that would be a terrible idea." Noctis pushed past the others and looked up at Dino.

"Happy now? You have your confirmation," Noctis said.

"You know, I bet if you looked twenty right now, that would be maybe slightly intimidating instead of adorable," Dino said. Noctis glared at him. He was not adorable! Prompto burst out laughing.

"He's right!" Prompto said.

"Are we done laughing at me?" Noctis asked.

"For now," Prompto said.

"If you have nothing else to say, we had best be off," Ignis said before the group left.

MP:I know some might be disappointed that Noctis got his adult memories back. On the other hand, there were a lot more comedic opportunities with Noctis having his adult mind while confined to a child's form, and it also made more sense plotwise for reasons I can't reveal without spoilers.

PS Just assume any backstory info for the guys has been tweaked because I don't have the Ultimania and I'm too lazy to look up what it says.